Page 13 of Code Violation

“I’m very interested in talking with you, hearing your take on Cooper Springs as a kid, and nowadays too. I’m setting up interviews with Rufus and Magnus Ferguson, Mayor Moore, and a few other folks who’ve been living in Cooper Springs for years to get a feel for things, fill in some blanks. Please give me a call back so we can set up a time.”

He rattled off a phone number that Forrest again didn’t bother writing down. If he wanted to talk to Vik, he knew where to find him. As soon as the message ended, his finger smashed against the Delete button.

Forrest absolutely would not be granting an interview. Without thinking about it—or rather, without thinking it through—Forrest pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket. His fingers still shook as he punched in a message to his sister.

F: Did Nero Vik call you about an interview?

Lani didn’t immediately answer. Which, fine, wasn’t worrisome; she was a deputy with the Cooper Springs Police Department. Lani was also still recovering from a gunshot wound and since the department was short-staffed, she was busy as hell even though she was supposed to be deskbound.

F: I don’t want you talking to him. Call me before you do.

… …

When Lani’s response came, Forrest realized he’d miscalculated and groaned out loud.

L: I have better things to do than argue with you about who you think I should talk to. If he wants to ask me questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Telling his sister what to do always worked out so well for him. Especially when she was overworked and generally stressed out.

Instead of dealing with the paperwork waiting for him, Forrest finished getting dressed—including socks—and headed out to his truck. He needed to get out of the house and away from the cobwebs of his dream and put some food in his stomach.

* * *

The pub wasn’t quite open yet, but Magnus lived in the apartment above the bar and Rufus could almost always be found there too. Forrest wasn’t above barging in so he could have some company. Rufus was the closest thing he had to a father these days, and Magnus relished the part of Irritating Older Brother. He banged on the door several times, shivering as a particularly strong gust of wind blew.

Several just a damn minutes, thumps, bumps, and rattles later, the door opened to reveal a disheveled but awake Magnus Ferguson.

“Ah,” Magnus said, eyeing Forrest, “had a nightmare, did ya?”

That Magnus knew about Forrest’s nightmares was both good—he didn’t have to explain anything—and bad. Magnus thought Forrest should talk to a professional, as in a therapist. That wasn’t happening. Forrest talked to as few people in town as possible and he’d known them for most of his life. He wasn’t about to spill his guts to some stranger.

“Yes, and I don’t want to talk about it. Can I talk you into something to eat?”

Magnus rolled his eyes but opened the door wide so Forrest could slip inside.

“Of course, you’re always welcome in our house.”

Forrest was unsurprised to find Rufus sitting at the end of the bar. Since selling the Steam Donkey to Magnus, Rufus had bought his own small house and was currently “stepping out” with Wanda Stone, but he still could be found in the pub on a regular basis. Especially when it was too rainy or cold to be up in the woods.

“Morning, Rufus,” Forrest said as he crossed to the bar and claimed the spot next to older man. “How’s it going?”

“It’s closer to noon, but whatever floats your boat, Forrest.”

Rufus knew about his nightmares too. By the time he’d died, Ernst Cooper hadn’t had a lot of friends, but Rufus Ferguson had been one of them. Ned Barker and his ex-brother-in-law, Oliver Cox, had been the others. Rufus, Ned, and Oliver had often come over to shoot the shit, and they’d eventually let Forrest hang around with them too.

“Brain’s working overtime, I guess. Same dream, just a few tweaks. Woke me right up.” Sweating and ready to crawl into a closet. “I got a message from Vik. How did he get the landline number?” Forrest suspected Magnus was the culprit, thinking he knew what was best for Forrest. “Like I told you, I don’t trust him and I’m not going to talk to him.”

“Methinks the man doth protest too much,” Magnus intoned in a hideous, supposedly English accent. However, it wasn’t an admission that he was the one who gave Forrest’s home number out.

“Protest what?” Forrest demanded, knowing full well what he was protesting.

“I’m no expert on affairs of the heart, Forrest, but he’s had his eye on you almost as much as you’ve had yours on him. Not in a creepy way.” Magnus waggled his head back and forth. “More of an interested way. No harm in him having a way to get a hold of you.”

“He has not had his eye on me.” Forrest scoffed. “And anyway, do I need to repeat that I don’t trust him? Why would I want him to have my number?”

Rufus snorted. “We both saw you watching him the other day when you thought no one was paying attention. Forrest Ernst Cooper,” Rufus said with the slightest smirk, “I’ve never known you to back down from a dare in your life. Now”—he jabbed a thick finger Forrest’s direction—“I dare you to face down your past and acknowledge whatever the hell is sparking off the two of you. Let yourself live a little and find out—something good might happen.”

“Something bad might happen.”

---